The dating and dieting debacles of a bandster

Oh blogland. I am so so sorry. I have missed you more than I can describe. When I think about friends I need to catch up with you are right there at the top of my list but I have been insanely busy. There is even a boy involved. Don't worry, you have not missed out on any actual dates. This boy (another different A) and I have been emailing since the end of August, and now at the end of September, after many nights on the dating website chat bit and texting until the wee small hours while I try to finish my work and he tries to distract me, we are hopefully going to get our act together and meet tomorrow. I'm a little scared to write this in case it doesn't actually happen but I'm so excited I might actually explode. I refuse to get my hopes up after the last experience but we've really gotten to know each other and part of me just can't help it. I really really like him already. Cross everything.

I have been having a REALLY hard time dieting at my new school. Lunch is provided and not low fat/low calorie. I have to eat with the kids meaning that I don't always have as much control as I'd like. I spent the end of my lunch break last Wednesday heaving everything up again in the staff toilet. Had to get my TA to remove the monster spider in their first though. That was interesting.

Nevertheless, I must be doing something right. I am down to pre Disney weight and a bit more. The scale was being ultra friendly this morning as it had another 1/2 less than that until I got the camera. Bloody typical eh!

That is 13 st 10 1/4 lbs

192.2 lbs

87 kg. 

Me and my friend's beautiful boy Henry

En route to the gym

On the way to work after only 4 hours sleep.

Playdough letters

I am loving my new job. I work with some great people, I have a great class and I am starting to find my feet. It's a long term supply contract covering for a woman who is off sick and likely to be until February. I want to stay for good. I don't know how that can happen without wishing bad things on someone else and that isn't really fair. There is a real sense of community spirit. Everyone, including the parents, keeps asking me how I am and how I am settling in. I felt so welcome I even did my bit for the school bake sale on Friday and made cupcakes. I made 12. I took in 11. One is for A. It's still in the fridge. If tomorrow gets cancelled, I am damn well eating it. Personally I think I deserve a medal for surviving this long with it in there.

Cupcake temptations

I hope you're all good. Loving the pictures on facebook coming out of Chicago. I am incredibly jealous and I am going next year £500 flights or not. In the mean time I am going to organise a UK BOOBS gathering. Who is with me? xxx

AAAAAAaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhh!

I am soooooo behind with blogging. I want to be here desperately but stupid work is holding me up. I have a big new parent presentation thing on Thursday and I am trying to be caught up and straight by then. On the plus side I have been working out like a demon. I did 2 hours at the gym tonight but I will be working until gone 11 as I have so much to do. C'est la vie!

I hope everyone is good? I've tried to flick through a few blogs but nothing is working. Maybe it is the internet's way of saying get your backside into gear missy and finish your work. Humph!

The date with D was a total bust. He was a complete git in person. He told me over and over again about how stupid people (his ex's) have been and he has to sort it all out for them and they didn't listen when he told them in the first place so it was their own fault ... Then he said about how he met "a really fit bird in a wheel chair" in a local nightclub but he didn't even think about it because that wasn't how he imagined his wedding pictures. I kid you not! Then he started on how his mate had just started seeing this girl with 2 kids and how he was completely cracked because who would want to be with a woman with kids. He was very elusive about himself and what he does, enjoys doing in his free time, his past etc. I found that a bit odd. He lives 20 miles away but doesn't drive because he has been ill and had his license suspended. At the end of the night he said when can I take you out for dinner and I told him I thought he was a nice guy but I didn't want to see him again. He argued about it. Why not? Give me 5 reasons? I thought this went well. We had so much to talk about earlier. I said about the driving and there not being any real chemistry and he tried to make out like I was being a total ***** because he was ill. Oh well thought I, as I drove away, maybe he will appreciate how the girl in the wheelchair felt.

In other news, school dinners are lovely and not very low fat in the new school. I need me a fill.

Another date.

Dating sucks. Never heard from A again. Thank goodness I didn't let my frustrations get the better of me.

I've had a crazy few days since then. I've been to the Paralympic athletics. Sung my national anthem 3 times. Would have hummed along (and sung the words I knew) to the star spangled banner for y'all (did I pull it off?) buyer that was the last event and the medal ceremony was carried over. Sorry.

Tonight I have another date. With D. we started talking today and have spoken twice on the phone. Once for over an hour. I don't talk to anyone for that long. Ever. So I am going to meet him for a drink. I have marking to do and blogs to catch up on but you'll will forgive me, right? Wish me luck. Xx

For those of you dying to know ...

Thank you for all your encouragement. It was incredible! I told him I was nervous before I got there but given over the last 3 day we have texted NON STOP it was so relaxed and easy. If I hadn't have known I was meeting him, I wouldn't have given him a second glance going into the pub. He isn't 'turn heads' gorgeous. He has lots of tattoos and HUGE holes in his ears but the nose ring is barely noticeable. The fun that followed was far more important.
We shall see what comes of it. xx

Dating again.

So anyways ... a while ago, inspired by another bandster, I decided to give online dating another go. I have never had much luck with the whole online thing. Generally the men I have met are all after one thing but I met a nice guy a while ago. He was short and spent our brief meeting picking at a scab on his elbow (gag) so I politely said it was nice meeting him but I wasn't interested. He wasn't either. Fair play. For the last week, I have been chatting to a very lovely guy (A) who is kind and funny and hasn't done the whole begging to see more explicit photos thing. (I don't do that. There are many who ask!) Tonight I said I looked like hell after work, so he asked for a photo ... after much laughing and joking, I sent him 3. First a nice one from last week for comparison, tonight when I got in and finally heading out to Zumba. He said I looked hot and there was more joking that was how I looked after Zumba but he sent a photo back and ... he has a ring through his nose, like a bull. I'm a little freaked out. I hate to admit it but I am rather straight laced, tattoos and piercings don't really do it for me. I was prepared for the big hole in his ear piercing and the tattoos. I am regularly telling myself not to be so shallow and judge him on his personality ... but he has a ring through his nose ... like a bull!!!!!! I am meant to meet him tomorrow night. I need to not be freaked out by then. Help, I need perspective.

In other news, new job is going well but loads to do! I can't wait for the boring meetings to end and the kids to start!!!

Post Hoiliday Craziness

Hey all,
I am unbelievably sorry about my absence this week. I hate making excuses and all that but between jet lag, a wedding, a surprise party, a cupcake party evening I was helping at, several meet ups with old friends, getting a job and getting ready for starting school again  TOMORROW I have had barely any time, and that has all been taken up with boring stuff like washing, ironing, tidying up, cleaning the fish tank (twice because I had been away) and consoling my cat (who seems to want to spend every second physically touching me since I have been back). There has just been no time for me to start catching up and I felt like I had to catch up before I could post. Realistically, I am not going to be able to do it. I start my new job tomorrow (details to follow) and the longer I leave it, the more behind I get. If there is anything I have missed, please tell me but otherwise, I shall try to pick up as I go and I am very very sorry.
I have missed you all terribly. Thank you for the sympathy about my bite. It has healed nicely although I'm a little worried it is going to scar. Boo! Mum and I had a fabulous time in Disney World. I haven't sorted out photos yet (see I have been busy!!) but I promise I shall post some soon along with this time last year comparisons. I was in shock virtually the entire time about the portion sizes. Last year I ate a full meal and dessert my myself EVERY DAY for lunch AND dinner but more about that in my holiday post.
So what do I have to tell you.
I got a job. It's a long term supply job until February covering for a woman who is off sick. The school is an independent (private) school and there are only 11 pupils in my class and I get a full time classroom assistant. The head has been trying to scare me about the parents. They want the best for their children (understandably) and want to feel like they are getting what they are paying for. Parents don't scare me anymore. I have been threatened, shouted at, physically intimidated and all sorts but I survive it all and I am still good to their kids. It's part of being a professional. Anyways, I go tomorrow and meet people, see my classroom and find out what I am meant to be doing. Eeeeek. It is less money than a regular teaching job with the same responsibilities etc but it is very valuable experience and a job for the next 6 months. Besides with 11 children and a supporting adult, I really cannot complain.
I saw fish shop boy on Thursday. Sheer coincidence, we were in adjacent lanes at a roundabout and he then followed me for another 5 minutes or so. We did the jokey window conversation thing and have been texting again. He hasn't said that he has dumped his girlfriend :o( and I don't really feel I can ask. Nevermind we should be meeting for coffee soon.
I went to see my ex on Friday. He wasn't expecting me. I wasn't even expecting to go. I had to buy new shoes for my new posh job and I went to pick them up from the shopping centre 5 miles from him on my way to my friends cupcake evening. Traffic made me late to the shops and leaving but I had this brainwave I would go and ask him for the tickets I have been texting and calling him (without any response) for. He was not pleased to see me but just stood in the doorway looking all grumpy. I said I wanted to talk about the tickets. He said I could have them. I asked why he didn't just say that before. Apparently it was all a bit much. 3 texts and a phone call in 6 weeks, is too much. Never mind. I asked if I could take them then but he said they hadn't been delivered yet ... red rag to a bull ... my friend Helena is going, her tickets arrived OVER A YEAR AGO!!!!!!!!!! "Oh I'll chase it up then" says he. I honestly don't know if he will. I don't know if he will send them to me as he promised but I am not going to just give up. I do know now that I can virtually close the book on this part of my life. It didn't make me sad to see him or hurt in any particular way. I didn't cry at all. It is over. I am ready to move on. I just want to take my Michael McIntyre tickets with me.